COLUMBUS – The Northeast Community College golf team were hard at work this weekend, competing in the Midland Invitational match play in Oakland on Saturday, and finishing up day one of the I-81 Classic here today.

At the rain-shortened Midland Invite, held at the Oakland Country Club on Saturday, Northeast ended the tournament with one win and two losses to place seventh in their bracket.

In round one, Northeast won two matches to Iowa Western Community College’s three, and won two matches in the second round to Dordt College’s three. In the third round, Northeast and Doane College both won three matches.

Hunter Schleuter and Brooks Coleman led the Hawks’ efforts, both winning two of their three matches.

Coach Kurt Pytleski explained that Northeast played short-handed for the tournament due to a player illness during the first match. “It is kind of hard to compete in a five man tournament with four players,” he said. “We started each round one point down, but the guys competed hard.”

Pytleski said that while half his team competed in the Midland Invite, the other half took to the greens Sunday at the two-day I-81 Classic. The tournament, held at Elks Country Club in Columbus, was a triangular among York College, Central Community College and Northeast.

After a windy day of competition, York is currently in first place with a team total of 329, followed by Central with 333 and Northeast with 339. Northeast’s Cody Steuter shot a 78 to close the day in the lead.

Elsewhere for Northeast, Jamy McCoy fired an 84, with Jason Palmer two strokes back. Christian Stallbaum shot a 91, and Devon Halliwell, 94.

The I-81 Classic wraps up tomorrow at the York Country Club in York.